Colossians
An Outline:
Bible books contents
1. Background
- Colosse was one of three cities
in the
Lycus valley in
Phrygia ( modern Turkey), the others being Laodicea and Hierapolis. In
Paul's days Colosse was the least important of them.
- Some people think that Paul never visited
the
Collisions
based on Col.1:9;2:1, but some say that
Acts. 16:6-7 suggests
otherwise.
- A number of people are mentioned in this
epistle, for more
details look at the outline on Philemon
- This is one of the so called Prison
letters,
written
during Paul's first imprisionment at Rome.
2.The
Problems
There
appears to have been three
main problems
in the Colossian assembly:
a. Judaisers
This
was
and, to some extent is today, a perennial problem among believers. That
is those who want to bring believers back under the Mosaic
laws
and ceremonies to some degree. Galatians
deals
with this in greater detail.
b. Gnosticism
This
was a
'mystery'
religion: that is one
in which its secret were only divulged to the initiates; it
was
a salvation by knowledge. The belief system was based on the
theory that God is good and matter is evil. God being too
holy to
have created the material world, created a hierarchy of angels
('emanations'), one
slightly inferior to the last one. They claimed that Jesus was the last
emanations who, being emptied of deity created, and could be
in
contact
with, the evil material world.
c. Asceticism
This
being linked to
Gnosticism, it was the teaching of total renunciation of all material
goods in order
to seek the invisible and spiritual. This involved the
suppression of bodily appetites and a strict control of
everything. Examples of this can be seen in the so called
church
mystics during the centuries that followed right down to the present
day.
3.
Paul's reply
In
order to counter the heresies Paul makes
a
declaration of the SUPREMACY
of
Christ: he shows Jesus' deity and the work He did in destroying the
works of the wicked one.
4.
Outline:
Christ is all and in all
Introduction
&
thanksgiving
|
|
1:1-8
|
Prayer
for the Colossians
|
|
1:9-14
|
The
Supremacy Of Christ:
|
Jesus:
|
Notes
|
Ref.
|
As creation's Firstborn
|
That is: in
position
and responsibility
|
1:15
|
As Creator
|
This verse shows
that Jesus was not
created! See also Jn
1:1-4 & Heb.1:1-2
|
1:16
|
As Sustainer
|
Not only creator, but
also
sustains His creation.
|
1:17
|
As Head of the church
|
Ephesians emphasises the
body,
Colossians
emphases the Head.
|
1:18a
|
As the Preeminent one
|
To have the FIRST place
in
all things
|
1:18b
|
As the Holder of God's
fullness
|
Can a container be
smaller than what
it holds?
|
1:19
& 2:9
|
As the Peace maker
|
He is our peace
Eph.
2:14
|
1:20a
|
As the
Reconciler
|
All things in earth and
heaven!
see also Heb.
9:22-23
|
1:20b-23
|
As the subject of the
Gospel
Mystery
|
a. Mystery here means
secret
see. Eph. 3:1-13
b. The mystery is CHRIST
IN YOU
c. The treasure house of wisdom and knowledge.
|
1:24-2:3
|
|
1:15-2:3
|
The
seduction of
the cults
|
The
Error
|
God's
Answer: Jesus
|
Ref
|
Beguilers
|
Walk in Christ as ye
have received Him
|
2:4-6
|
Philosophy
|
We are
complete in HIM
|
2:7-10
|
Judaism
|
Christ is the reality
cf. Gal. 5:1-3
Heb.
10:1
|
2:11-17
|
Mysticism
/Angelolatry
|
Christ is the Head
from whom the
body is built up.
|
2:18-19
|
Asceticism
|
We are dead with Christ
from
the elements
of the world & its ordinances.
|
2:20-23
|
|
2:4-23
|
The
solution for
the Christian
|
| Christ is our
life so seek those things
above
|
3:1-4
|
Christ
is all
and in all so put off the old man
|
3:5-11
|
Christ
has
forgiven us so forgive one another
|
3:12-13
|
Christ's
Words
to dwell in us so put on
these things
|
3:14-16
|
Christ
is our
master so serve Him in all things
|
3:17-4:1
|
|
3:1-4:1
|
Final
words
|
|
4:2-4:18
|